Driving tool



W. E. SCHULZ Jan. 3, 1961 DRIVING TOOL Fied Feb. 21, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet1 Jan. 3, 1961 w. E. scHULz 2,966,683

DRIVING TOOL Filed Feb. 21, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. E. SCHULZ Jan. 3,1961 DRIVING TooL 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 2l, 1955 A @NNN Jan. 3,1961 Filed Feb. 21, 1955 W. E. SCHULZ DRIVING TOOL` 8 Sheets-Sheet 4Glu;

W. E. SCHULZ Jan. 3, 1961 DRIVING TOOL 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 N .mi

Filed Feb. 21, 1955 W. E. SCHULZ Jan. 3, 1961 DRIVING TOOL 8Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 21, 1955 um u Jan. 3, 1961 w. E. scHuLz2,966,683

DRIVING Toor.

Filed Feb. 21, 1955 s sheets-sheet 7 Fig. 2b

W` E. SCHULZ Jan. 3, 1961 DRIVING TOOL 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 m .mi

0/ www Q QQ A i WWI l l l I l I l l l l I I I I i l I I I l l I l @N2,966,683 Patented Jan. 3, 1961 ice DRIVING rooL Walter E. Schulz,Goethestr. 44, Wulfrath, Rhineland, Germany Filed Feb. 21, 1955, Ser.No. 489,567

Claims priority, application Germany Feb. 23, 1954 3 Claims. (Cl. 1-106)The present invention relates to driving tools and, more particularly,to driving tools for driving studs, nails and the like into solidbodies.

Driving tools serving for driving studs, nails or the like into solidbodies must in conformity with prevailing safety 'regulations be sodesigned that prior to the firing of the stud, a relative movementbetween the muzzle of the barrel land the casing will be necessary, andthat only in this position, a tiring of ,the stud will be possible. Thisregulation is intended to prevent the driving tool from being fired inthe manner of a gun, Le., without the barrel muzzle being pressedagainst a fixed abutment. In order to assure the relative movementbetween the barrel and the casing to the required extent, it isnecessary to provide an abutment for the barrel. This abutment, however,has the drawback that the recoil is conveyed to the handle and therebyto the hand of the operator through the intervention of said abutment.With the heretofore known driving tools, in most instances efforts weremade to eliminate or to cushion the effect of the recoil upon the handleand thus upon the hand of the operator by providing spring means betweenthe casing and the handle. These spring means, however, must necessarilybe harder than the spring against the thrust of which the barrel ispressed because otherwise the spring means of the handle would becompressed before the relative movement between the barrel and casinghas been effected to the required extent. Therefore, relatively hardspring means had to be provided so that, nevertheless, the recoilaffected the hand of the operator still to a rather great extent. Theeffect of the recoil upon the operators hand was particularly stronglyfelt when, due to faulty handling, a particularly strong recoiloccurred. Such an increased recoil will occur, for instance, when thestud,

during the loading operation, is moved too far towards muzzle of thebarrel. Hand injuries caused by the recoil of the driving tool thereforefrequently occurred.

It is an object of -this invention to provide a driving tool which willovercome the above-mentioned drawbacks.

It is another object of this invention to provide a driving tool whichwill eliminate `the harmful elfect Vof the Vrecoil Iupon the 'hand ofthe operator handling the driving tool.

Slt is also an Lobject of `this invention to provide a driving tool Yof'the type set forth in the preceding paragraphs, in which the abutmentwhich limits the relative movement of the barrel and casing will become-inelective tively soft spring so that also with an excessive recoil nohand injuries will occur.

These and other objects and advantagesof the invention will appear moreclearly from the following specication in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a section through a driving tool according to the invention inwhich the abutment for limiting the relative movement between the barreland the shield becomes ineffective when tiring the driving tool.

Figs. la, 1b and lc show the driving tool according to the invention indifferent positions during the actuation thereof.

Fig. 2 illustrates a longitudinal section through a moditied drivingtool according to the invention in which the relative displacementbetween the barrel and shield is independent of a limiting abutmentlimiting the relative movement between the barrel and the shield.

Figs. 2a and 2b show the driving tool according to Fig. 2 yin diiferentpositions of operation.

Fig. 3 illustrates a still further modification of the invention andshows a driving tool somewhat similar to that of Fig. 2 having a guidingpipe which serves as abutment.

General arrangement In order to cause the abutment which normally limitsthe relative movement of the barrel and the casing to become ineffectivewhen ring the stud, the trigger may, for instance, be so designed thatthe actuation of the trigger simultaneously releases the tiring pin andcauses the abutment which limits said relative movement to becomeineffective, for instance, by withdrawing said abutment. According to aparticularly simple and reliable embodiment of the invention, the saidabutment is made ineffective on withdrawal of the tiring pin whichitself serves as abutment for the barrel or the breech block connectedto the barrel. To this end, the tiring pin is preferably positivelyvengageable with the barrel or with the breech block connected to thebarrel and to the casing so that when a relative movement between thebarrel and the shield is effected, simultaneously the firing pin is heldstationary while the spring for the firing pin is compressed. Byactuating the trigger, the said positive connection is eliminated,whereupon the firing pin, due tothe thrust on the firing pin, springs orjumps forwardly lwhile simultaneously the barrel is free to move towardthe rear. Consequently, the barrel can now move backywardly due to theeifect of the recoil. This backward movement of the barrel may beintercepted by a spring or braking means.

According to another embodiment of this invention, the same effect isobtained by making the barrel axially movable independently of theabutment which limits the relative movement between the barrel and thecasing. The barrel, which in a `manner similar to the first embodiment,is preferably xedly connected to the breech block and may, for instance,be screwed into the latter, is, therefore, allowed suflicient distanceto displace itself against the thrust of a spring not only tothe extentnecessary for the relative movement between the casing and the barrelprior to the ltiring of the 'tool but by an additional distance which issufficient to intercept the recoil without shock effect upon the handle.The abutment which limits the relative movement of the barrel isarranged on the casing which has vthe handle connected thereto. When therelative movement between the barrel and casing is completed, the saidabutment rests in a positive manner against the surface into which thebolt is to be driven. In contrast to the heretofore known driving toolsand also in contrast to the first embodiment of the invention, 'in thepresent instance Ythe relative movement between the barrel and casing isnot limited by an abutment, but the abutment limits the distance orstroke by which the casing prior to the ring is pressed forwardlyagainst the surface into which the stud has to be driven. Thus, thebarrel is able at the instant of the firing due to the' recoil to springback in the casing without the necessity of employing hard springs orabutments which would convey the recoil to the handle.

An arrangement according to the present invention has the furtheradvantage that it is of simple construction and comprises relatively fewelements. A further simplification of the construction of a driving toolaccording to the invention may be obtained by providing the breech blockwith a movable extension which limits the forward movement of the breedblock. Furthermore, after the said extension has been pressed inwardly,the breech block, firing pin and firing pin spring, as well as therelease member, which latter interlocks the breech block and firing pinin a positive manner, may be removed. Such extension may, for instance,be formed by an extension or tongue of the breech block, which tonguemay extend through a slot in the casing in such a manner that when thebarrel is in a certain position relative to the casing, said tongue willface the nose of the trigger so that in this position only will it bepossible to release the ring pin, whereas in the foremost position ofthe barrel relative to the casing it is possible by pressing in the sametongue to dismantle the tool.

Structural arrangement Referring now to the drawings in detail and Fig.l thereof in particular, the driving tool shown therein comprises abarrel 1 which is screwed into the breech block 2 by means of a thread3. The firing pin 5 is designed as a sleeve which in the interiorthereof has arranged a firing pin spring 6. A pin 8 inserted into thebottom of the casing 7 serves as guide for the firing pin spring. Arelease member is movably mounted in a transverse bore 9 of the breechblock 2 so as to be movable in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the barrel against the thrust of a spring 11. Thisrelease member is also provided with a bore extending in the directionof the longitudinal axis of the ring pin and arranged so that the firingpin can pass through said bore when the release member 10 is pressedinwardly against the thrust of the spring 111. However, when the releasemember under the action of the spring 11 is pressed against the somewhatnarrow front portion of the firing pin, the rear thicker portion cannotpass through said bore of the release member because the shoulder 12abuts the step 13 of the release member. The casing 7 is provided with aslot 14 through which protrudes an extension 15 of the release member10. The said eX- tension 15 is adapted to be actuated by a trigger 16which is tiltable about a bolt 17. When the muzzle of the barrel isplaced against the surface into which the stud is to be driven and thecasing 7 is pressed forwardly against the thrust of the firing pinspring 6 and of the loading spring 18, the extension 15 occupies theposition shown in Fig. 1 in dash lines. In order to load the tool, thebarrel is screwed out of the breech block 2, whereupon the stud and thecartridge are introduced into the barrel from the rear. Finally thebarrel is again screwed into the breech block 2. In order to facilitatethe screwing in and out of the barrel, the barrel is reinforced at 4,and this reinforcement is knurled.

The device according to Fig. 1 is actuated in the following manner. Thesleeve 19 is manually withdrawn away from the wall while simultaneouslythe otherhand which holds the butt 24 presses in opposite direction asis indicated in Fig. la by the arrows 29 and 30. Fig. la shows theposition of the parts now occupied thereby, i.e. after withdrawal of thehousing 19 and the shield 20 connected thereto in the direction of thearrow 29 and the exertion of pressure upon the butt 24 in the directionof the arrow 30. The muzzle of the barrel extends beyond the front sideof the protective plate 28 and can be properly observed while the toolis readied for ring. However, it should be noted that also in thisposition the tool is still in its safety position because the partswithin the housing 7 have not been displaced relative to each other sothat the firing pin still cannot hit the bottom of the cartridge. Thespring 20 has been strongly compressed due to the withdrawal of theprotective cap in the direction of the arrow 29. After the muzzle of thebarrel has been placed upon the proper area 31 (see Fig. 1b) into whichthe stud is to be driven, pressure is exerted upon the butt 24 in thedirection of the arrow 30 whereby the housing 7 is moved forwardly whilethe sleeve 19 has been released again so that the shield 28 can againrest on the surface 38 and the spring 20 is again somewhat released.While the housing 7 is pressed forwardly, the shoulder 12 of the firingpin rests against the shoulder 13 of the release member 10 whereby thefiring pin is prevented from following further the move ment of thehousing. The ring pin spring 6 and the spring 18 will be compressedduring this operation.

Fig. lb illustrates the end position in which the driving tool is readyfor firing. In this position, the bottom of the housing 7 rests againstthe surface 31 through the intervention of the firing pin, the releasemember 10, the shoulders 12, 13 thereof, the breech block 2 and thebarrel 1 so that the operator will feel a hard resistance when theposition shown in Fig. lb has been reached. The sleeve 19 will in itsposition of Fig. 1b not be in direct contact with the housing 7 so thata slight inclination of the driving tool will be possible. If, however,the tool would be inclined to a greater extent, it would be impossibleto obtain the position in which the nose 25 and the extension 15 faceeach other, so that in this way the device according to the inventionwill make sure that the tool cannot be red when it inclined with regardto the surface 31. When pulling the trigger 16, the nose 25 pressesextension 15 upwardly. As a result thereof, the shoulders 12, 13 willnot be contacted any longer and the firing pin springs forward in viewof the ring pin spring 6. This ignites the cartridge, and stud 35 isdriven into the surface 31. At the same time, due to the recoil, thebarrel 1 and the breech block 2 are pressed into the housing 7 towardthe left while spring 18 and spring 6 Will be compressed.

The thus obtained position is illustrated in Fig. lc. The distance overwhich the barrel and the breech block move against the thrust of the twosprings may be so selected that the recoil energy will be absorbedbefore the barrel and the breech block have reached the outermost lefthand end position which is determined by the blocking of springs 18 andthe length of the firing pin. This prevents a hard recoil which couldharmfully affect the hand of the operator. The extension or tongue 15and the trigger 16 of the arrangement of Fig. 1 have a still furtherfunction. The opening 17a. through which the bolt 17 extends through thetrigger is, as shown, not a circular but an angular longitudinalpassage. The spring 26 has the tendency to turn the trigger not only inthe direction of the arrow a, but has an additional tension whichpresses the trigger in the direction of the arrow b toward the left.When the trigger is pulled out in the direction of the arrow c, the bolt17 enters the second leg or section of the angular longitudinal passage,and the trigger may now be pushed inwardly so that the extension ortongue 15 during this actuation of the trigger is pressed inwardly whenit is in that position inwhich the barrel occupies its foremostposition. Even when the tool is loaded, no firing can take place in thisposition because in this position of the barrel, the firing pin cannotreach the tiring cap because it is retained bythe flange 21. However,the breech block may now be pulled outwardly toward the front. After thebreech block has'been withdrawn with the release member 10, also thetiring pin 5 with the firing pin spring 6 and the outer firing pin.guide 22 may be removed. Thus, it is possible completely yto dismantlethe tool without having to loosen a screw or without having to employ atool. In order to prevent accidents, the distance between the casing 7and the sleeve 19 is selected so that the casing can be pressedforwardly a suicient distance only when the sleeve 19occupies itsforemost position, or is at least close to said foremost position. Aspring ring 27 which is located in a groove of the enlarged portion ofthe barrel prevents the removal of the sleeve 19 which in its turn isnon-detachably connected with the protective hood shield 28.

Referring now to Fig. 2, also with the embodiment shown therein thebarrel 1a is screwed into the breech block 2a by means of a thread 3a.For purposes of loading the tool, the barrel is screwed out of thebreech block, and the stud and cartridge are introduced from the rearinto the barrel, whereupon the barrel is again screwed into the breechblock 2a. If the stud is not driven by powder gases but, for instance,by air under pressure, instead of a cartridge a` corresponding devicefor producing or conveying air under pressure is to be provided as isknown, for instance, in connection with air rifles. The protective plateor shield 28a is connected to the sleeve 19a, which latter, by means ofa thread 30, is screwed onto the casing 7a. A spring 18a. in the casing7a similar to the arrangement of Fig. 1 presses the breech block 2a andthe barrel la into their foremost positions. These positions are limitedby the fact that the inner diameter of the sleeve 19a is somewhat lessthan the inner diameter of the casing 7a so that the front edge 31 ofthe breech block 2a rests against the thus formed shoulder. The ring pinSa may be designed in a manner similar to that described in connectionwith the discussion of Fig. 1 so that when the sleeve 19a is pressedforwardly, the ring pin spring 6a is loaded. In contrast to thearrangement of Fig. 1, it is, however, not necessary to limit therelative movement between firing pin a and member 23a. When the muzzleof the barrel is placed upon the surface into which the stud is to bedriven and when pressure is exerted upon the handle 24a, the casing 7aand sleeve 19a move forwardly against the thrust of the spring 18a untilthe barrel muzzle and the front surface of the protective plate orshield 28a or flush with each other, or when the said surface is uneven,are at least approximately flush with each other. In this position, therelease extension or tongue a faces the nose 25a of the trigger 16a sothat the stud can be red. Due to the effect of the recoil, the barrel1a. and the breech block 2a may swing back against the thrust of thespring 18a without causing the shock to pass onto the casing 7a and thehandle 24a. For purposes of `loading the tool, the barrel can bewithdrawn from the breech block and pulled out toward the front from theVprotective plate or shield 28a without the necessity of removing thesleeve 19a. VFor purposes of dismantling the tool, first the sleeve 19ais screwed off from the casing 7a, whereupon the further dismantling iseffected in the same manner as described with the embodiment of Fig. l,namely, by pressing the extension or tongue 15a inwardly by means of anappropriate tool or by a correspondingly designed trigger 16a, whereuponthe breech block is removed together with the release member 10a.Thereupon also the firing pin 5a with the firing pin spring 6a. and thereturn spring 18a may be removed.

Thus, with the device according to Fig. 2, the barrel 1a protrudesalready in its rest position beyond the protective plate 20a to such anextent that the muzzle of the barrel can be clearly observed whenplacing the tool .upon the surface into which the stud is to be driven.After the muzzle of the barrel has been placed upon the said surface,pressure is exerted upon the butt 24a whereby the housing 7a is movedforwardly while spring 18a and the tiring pin spring 6a are compressed.

Fig. 2a shows the thus obtained end position. The

tool is now ready for ring and nose 25a "of trigger 16a faces extension15a of the release member 10a. By firing the tool, the stud 35a isdriven into the surface 31a and simultaneously .the barrel 1a and thebreech block 2a moved rearwardly by the recoil force. As a resultthereof, springs 18a and firing pin spring 6a are compressed. Also againin this instance, as is the case with the embodiment of Fig. l, therecoil energy is completely absorbed by the springs 18a and 6a so thatalso in this instance a hard shock against the hand of the operator willbe prevented.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 differs from that of Fig. 2 primarily inthat not the protective plate or shield 28b itself but a pipe 33surrounding the barrel serves as abutment. The pipe 33 is provided witha flange 34 which is located between the sleeve 19h and the casing 7b.In this way the pipe 33 is non-displaceably connected with the casing7b. The tiring of the stud is similar to that described in connectionwith Fig. 2. When the muzzle of the barrel 1b is placed upon the surfaceVinto which the stud is to be driven and when pressure is exerted uponthe handle 2412, the casing 7b and sleeve 19h are displaced forwardlyuntil the muzzle of the barrel and the face of the pipe 33 are flushwith each other. In this position, the release extension 15b faces thenose 25h of the trigger 1619 so that the stud can be red. During therecoil, the barrel and closure member can return against the thrust ofthe spring 181; without the shock being directly conveyed to the casing7b and the handle 2417.

The embodiment of Fig. 3 has the further advantage over the embodimentof Fig. 2 that the relative movement between barrel and casing can beeffected to the required extent and the stud can be fired also when thepro-tective plate or shield 28b, due to uneveness of the surface intowhich the stud has to be tired, Vcan not be fully placed against saidsurface and the driving ktool has to be slightly inclined. A firing ofthe stud is not possible with both the embodiments of Figs. 2 and 3 whenthe tool must assume a greater inclined position. This is intentionallydone so in order to avoid accidents.

Instead of employing a tube surrounding the barrel as abutment, it is,of course, also possible to provide a Vrod or the like connected withthe casing. In such an instance the front end of such rod or the likewould, when firing the tool, rest in a positive manner against thesurface into which the stud is to be driven. Also in this instance, theprotective shield 28, 28a or 28h may 'be resiliently connected with therespective sleeve 19, 19a, 19b in order to assure that the protectiveshield will rest against the surface into which the stud is to be drivenas completely as possible. The `distance over which the barrel and theclosure member may travel after the casing has been pushed forwardly,i.e., after firing the stud, as the result of the recoil and against thethrust of the spring 18, 18a, 13b is preferably selected of suchmagnitude that the recoiling energy is completely absorbed by the spring18, 18a, 1gb.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present nvention is, by nomeans, limited to the particular constructions shown in the drawings,but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

l. In a power operable driving tool having a casing provided with alongitudinal opening and comprising a barrel having a breech end and amuzzle which latter mus-t be pressed into engagement with the wall intowhich a stud is to be driven in order to allow tiring of said tool, thecombination of: a firing pin movably mounted in said casing in axialdirection thereof, iirst spring means arranged in said casing andcontinuously urging said tiring pin into firing position, a slidingmember connected to the breech end of said barrel and slidably mountedin said casing, said sliding member being provided with a passagearranged in alignment with said tiring pin for allowing the latter topass therethrough to bring about a ring action, control means movable onsaid sliding member in a direction transverse to the longitudinaldirection of said tiring pin, said control means being provided with aslot and being movable from an effective position in which said slot isout of alignment with said ring pin thereby preventing said tiring pinfrom advancing into said passage into an inelective position in whichsaid slot is in alignment with said pin thereby allowing the same topass therethrough into said passage, said control member having anextension extending through said longitudinal opening, second springmeans, in said sliding member and continuously urging said controlmember into its elfective position, a sleeve member surrounding saidbarrel and having a shield at its outer end, said sleeve member beingxedly connected to said casing and being movable together with thelatter in either axial direction, third spring means interposed betweensaid sliding member and said casing and continuously urging said barrelinto protruding position with regard to said shield, said casing beingoperable positively to press said shield into engagement with the wallinto which the stud has to be driven and tlush with said muzzle, andmanually operable means on said casing operable in said last mentionedposition of said shield to actuate said extension for moving saidcontrol means into its ineffective position,

2. In a power operable driving tool having a casing provided with alongitudinal opening and comprising a barrel having a breech end and amuzzle which latter must be pressed into engagement with the wall intowhich a stud is to be driven in order to allow firing of said tool, thecombination of: a firing pin movably mounted in said casing in axialdirection thereof, rst spring means arranged in said casing andcontinuously urging said ring pin into tiring position, a sliding memberarranged at the breech end of said barrel and slidably mounted in saidcasing, said sliding member being provided with a passage arranged inalignment with said tiring pin for allowing the latter to passtherethrough to bring about a firing action, control means movable onsaid sliding member in a direction transverse to the longitudinaldirection of said ring pin, said control means being provided with aslot and being movable from an effective position in which said slot isout of alignment with said tiring pin thereby preventing said tiring pinfrom advancing into said passage into an ineifective position in whichsaid slot is in alignment with said pin thereby allowing the same topass therethrough into said passage, said control means having anextension extending through said longitudinal opening, second springmeans housed in said casing and continuously urging said control meansinto its effective position, an abutment member xedly connected to saidcasing and extending along said barrel, the front end of said abutmentmember normally being in retracted position relative to said muzzle,third spring means interposed between said sliding member and saidcasing and continuously urging said abutment member into said retractedposition, said casing being movable relative to said barrel'forpositively pressing the front end of said abutment member intoengagement with the wall into which the stud has to be driven and ilushwith said muzzle end, and manually operable means operable in said lastmentioned position of said abutment member where the latter is inengagement with said wall to act upon saidextension and to move saidcontrol means into its ineiective position.

3. In a power operable driving tool: a barrel adapted to receive a studto be tired, a breech block connected to said barrel, a casing having alongitudinal slot and housing said breech block, said breech block beingdisplaceably mounted in said casing, rst spring means arranged betweensaid breech block and said casing and continuously urging said breechblock to move in a forward direction, ring pin means arranged betweensaid breech block and said housing, second spring means continuouslyurging said firing pin means forwardly into a certain positionrepresenting its ring position, releasing means displaceable in saidbreech block in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction ofsaid barrel and normally engaging said ring pin to prevent the same frommoving to its tiring position, said releasing means comprising anextension extending through said longitudinal slot of said casing, afront end wall closing the front end of said slot and being engageablewith said extension to limit the forward movement of said breech block,a handle connected to said casing, and trigger means tiltably supportedby said handle and comprising a nose, said nose being movableselectively by said trigger means from a rst position representing itsinactive position to a second position representing its firing positionfor engagement with said extension and for moving said releasing meansout of its contact with said firing pin, means to thereby permit saidsecond spring means to move said tiring pin means into its tiringposition, said extension selectively being manually movable out of itsengagement with said nose into said casing and out of said slot fordismantling said driving tool.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,518,395 Sopris Aug. 8, 1950 2,533,851 Temple Dec. 12, 1950 2,576,473Meyers Nov. 27, 1951 2,660,726 Weingart Dec. 1, 1953 2,775,762 HiltiIan. 1, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 515,669 Belgium Dec. 15, 1952 521,711Belgium Aug. 14, 1953 708,692 -Great Britain May 5, 1954

